Chapter 23

1 week later/ Bella's POV

I've been to the Volturi castle after school and practice all this week. I became a bit more at ease every time I went and was getting to know everyone better.

Tonight the Volturi are having a Halloween ball at the castle and I'm invited. We had our dresses custom designed by a well-known Italian designer. Mine is black and has a train, spaghetti straps, and red detailing. Hannah's dress is a red corset style dress with a train and Chala's dress is gold, strapless, and is poufy like a Cinderella dress from the waist down.

We went to the spa to get massages, mani/pedis, and our hair washed, deep conditioned, and our scalps massaged. By the time we left there was four hours left until the ball started. Chala had petitioned the idea that the guys couldn't see us until the ball so we hadn't seen them all day. They were pretty upset about it because we weren't often separated from them but the girls and I agreed that it would be more romantic and exciting this way. Of course, balls were nothing new to Hannah and Chala but they still seemed pretty pumped.

Once we arrived back at the castle we headed straight back to the Beauty Room, only one of the many rooms that Aro had installed for Chala and Hannah, which housed countless hair, skin, and makeup products for our use. We put on our dresses, aprons so that we wouldn't get anything on them, and then we started getting ourselves beautiful for the night's events.

Demetri's POV

The guys and I have been ready for a while now, dressed in fashionable tuxes with our hair combed and slicked back and we were all anxious to be reunited with our girls. We were all sprawled around the Man Cave, which was our exclusive relaxation area. I haven't seen Bella since early this morning and my nerves were a wreck. I had become incredibly attached to her. Felix was complaining about not being able to kiss Hannah's full lips, and Alec was complaining about not having rubbed Chala's smooth legs all day. They were both making me want to vomit. At least I had the decency not to describe what I missed about Bella in such explicit detail. And they called me whipped.

Bella's POV

We were finally dressed and the party was about to start. Since it was a masquerade ball, we all had on eye masks that were adorned with jewels and feathers and matched our dresses. As we made our way to the ballroom, I couldn't help but think about how much my life had changed since the day I bumped into Demetri Volturi on my way to cheerleading practice. I had him as an amazing boyfriend, two loyal friends in Hannah and Chala, and two of the most protective and loving brother figures ever in Felix and Alec. Not to mention the fact that Aro, Marcus, and Caius and their wives were slowly becoming more like family as well. They were always welcoming and kind to me. I had to admit, the whole situation was strange. No one had really told me much, but I definitely had some burning questions. Why had I never heard of the royal Volturi in Italy? Why was each and every one of the Volturi pale and perfect, even Demetri, Alec, and Felix, who were supposed to be adopted? Why was Demetri's skin so hard and cold, and why did he and his family have such strange eyes? In reality, it was all creepy as hell if you really thought about it. But my feelings for Demetri overshadowed all fear and doubt.

At the bottom of the staircase that led up to the ballroom, there was a red carpet. Cameras were going off everywhere, and it took me a moment to realize that the press was here! Real live reporters and cameramen were taking pictures of us and recording us. I know my cheeks were bright red as I smiled shyly for the cameras. Some were individual, and sometimes the cameramen urged me and the girls to take pictures together. Finally, we ascended the staircase. There was a sign at the top that had our names on it with an arrow pointing through the double doors. Chala told us to stop in the shadows of the doorway because Aro would be announcing us soon. Sure enough, the music stopped and Aro's pleasant voice echoed over a microphone.

"Welcome Ladies and Gentlemen to the Volturi Masquerade Ball. Is everyone having a good time?"

The crowd screamed in excitement, but over the din we could hear three booming voices yell "No!" We knew exactly who the voices belonged to and giggled.

"Do you think some people are missing?" Aro called.

"Yes!" the crowd yelled.

After the noise grew faint again, a booming voice yelled out, "Yes, now please bring them out!" I blushed when I recognized it as Demetri's voice. I couldn't wait to see him!

"Okay, I'll bring them out because I can see that three men are becoming very impatient!" Aro laughed. "Presenting the hostesses of the ball, Chala Knechele Volturi, Hannah Elena McKnight-Volturi, and Isabella Marie Swan." I swallowed the nervous lump in my throat and begin to follow slowly as we all made a steady descent down the long, grand staircase with Chala in the lead and me in the rear. The crowd was silent and watchful.

I caught Demetri's eyes and he was looking at me with awe. I could feel my blush grow even hotter. I hoped desperately that I wouldn't trip. I wished we didn't have to walk so slowly. I briefly looked beside Demetri and saw that Alec and Felix both had their gazes glued to Chala and Hannah, respectively. Finally, we made it to the bottom of the staircase and Demetri, Felix, and Alec came to stand before us. They bowed deeply and we curtsied back. This was so authentic and romantic that I knew my eyes were shining with excitement.

Demetri and I kissed passionately and then proceeded to dance the night away. I watched as Alec fussed over Hannah's exposed cleavage and Felix fussed at Alec for fussing at Hannah. Demetri looked like he wanted to say something about Chala's exposed skin as well, but I suppose my tight grip on him stopped him from leaving my arms.

At the end of the party, after all the guests had departed, Aro told us all to follow him to the throne room. I noticed right away that instead of the three large thrones and two smaller ones that no one ever sat in, there were now six smaller thrones surrounding the large three. I burned with curiosity as to what was going on.

Aro surveyed Caius and Marcus, who were already seated in their thrones, and then turned to face us, his filmy golden gaze resting on me. I fidgeted. Had I done something wrong?

"Bella, as you know, both of my brothers have an adopted human daughter," he said to me. I nodded slowly, unaware of where he was going with the conversation although later I felt stupid for not realizing sooner. "I have been looking for my own daughter for quite some time, and with you being Demetri's girlfriend now and like family to Hannah and Chala, I was hoping that you'd do me the honor of becoming my daughter."

For a moment, I was frozen. My head was reeling with the unexpectedness of the situation. My cheeks burned hotter than ever and my heart pounded fiercely in my chest. His daughter? I already had a father. What do I say? I thought, feeling like I was going to faint from shock and fright.

Finally, the eyes on me burned away the ice in my throat. "You want me to be… your daughter?" I asked.

Aro nodded slowly and smiled gently. "I know that you have human parents, and you are still a minor so I cannot become your legal guardian in all respects. But in tradition, royalty wise, and even in the eyes of the Italian government as far as your name, I can officially make you Isabella Swan of the Volturi. Demetri loves you, my nieces love you, my son loves you, and my nephews love you. Therefore, I must love you as well, because I love my family. What say you, my dear?"

I thought it over briefly. It didn't sound too serious. I would still be Bella Swan, daughter of Charlie Swan and Renee Dwyer, sister of Emmett Swan. But if I accepted, I'd be royalty, sort of. It sounded legit enough. I looked up and into Aro's eyes and nodded. Everyone clapped and smiled, even Caius and Marcus. Aro stepped forward slowly, as if he feared he'd frighten me, and gave me a gentle hug. His skin was cold through his dark suit jacket and he smelled as enticing and fragrant as Demetri, Felix, and Alec. I gave an involuntary shiver. Aro released me and stepped back, surveying my face briefly before saying, "As the only condition, you have to realize that if you truly accept you will have to one day leave your family behind. Even if you and Demetri break up, you will never be able to go back to your old way of life again."

Again, I was frozen to the floor. Demetri's cold hand reached for and grasped mine as I stared at Aro with wide, confused eyes. "Why?" I asked, my voice cracking.

Aro smiled gently. "Because, my dear Bella, we are vampires. And our existence must be kept a secret."